opy 1 i> 



.J 



REPORT 



PEODTJCTION of BEET SU&AE 



AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISE IN MASSACHUSETTS. 

By Prof. CHARLES A.'GOESSMANN, Ph. D. 



lo-zo. 






KEPOET 



PRODUCTION OF BEET SUGAR 



AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISE IN MASSACHUSETTS. 

By Pkop. CHAKLES A. GOESSMANN. 

\ 



^^js-r 



44 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. [Feb. 



REPORT. 



Among the various saccharine substances, which chemistry 
at present recognizes, are three of particular interest to the 
agriculturist, namely, milk sugar, grape sugar, and cane sugar. 
Milk sugar, which causes the sweetness of milk, is exclusively 
confined to this peculiar animal secretion, and constitutes in 
that of different animals from 3 to 9 per cent. Its application 
in an isolated form is quite limited, and its manufacture carried 
on mainly by the mountaineers of the Swiss Alps. 

Grape sugar or glucose, which gives sweetness to the grape, 
is the most widely distributed of all saccharine substances. 
Most of our cultivated fruits derive from it, at least in part, 
their sweet taste. 

It is the only one among the sugars previously enumerated, 
which we are able to produce by artificial means ; its commer- 
cial importance, on account of its use for the production of 
alcohol and alcoholic liquors, as wine, beer, etc., and of sirups, 
is daily increasing. As our cheaper grains furnish the material, 
starch, from which grape sugar is mainly manufactured, its 
increasing production sensibly affects our home consumption 
of corn. 

Cane sugar, which receives its name from its principal source, 
the sugar cane, is the kind which we commonly employ for 
household purposes, and is consumed in enormous quantities ; 
while the number of plants which furnish it is quite limited. 
The sugar-cane, a few species of palm, the sugar-maple, the 
sorghum cane and the sugar-beet, are the plants which are 
turned to account for its manufacture. M. D. Dureau,in a re- 
port on the World's Exhibition of 1867, mentions that of the 
whole amount of sugar wliidi has recently entered the various 
markets, 66.47 per cent is produced from the sugar-cane, 27.87 
per cent from the sugar-beet, 4.29 per cent from the palms, 
and 1.24 per cent from the sugar-maple. The same authority 



1871.] SENATE- No. 75. 45 

states that the whole amount of sugar sold in 1867 in the principal 
markets was 5,140 million pounds, besides eighteen million gal- 
lons of sorghum molasses.* The consumption of sugar is steadily 
increasing among civilized nations ; in France it has more than 
doubled within the last thirty years ; in England it has doubled 
within the last fifteen years, whilst in Germany, its consump- 
tion has increased threefold within the same period of time. 
Numerical statements like those of Bureau, respecting the total 
production, are therefore not surprising; in fact, if we should 
allow to the whole population of Europe the same liberal supply 
of sugar, required by the citizens of the United States (30 
pounds per head), the total amount stated would scarcely 
suffice to meet one-half the demand. More than nine hundred 
million pounds of various grades of sugar, besides from fifty to 
sixty million gallons of sirup and molasses from sugar-cane and 
sorghum have been annually consumed of late, lepresenting 
a value of nearly one hundred million dollars, of which about 
seven-tenths are first cost, and three- tenths government taxation. 

Home Resources. 
The sugar produced in the United States is far less than the 
amount consumed, leaving a heavy balance for importation. 
The production of sugar-cane in Louisiana and Texas, it appears 
from reports of Champonnois and others, never exceeded four 
hundred and fifty thousand hogsheads, besides twenty thousand 
gallons of molasses ; the maple-sugar production may have 
reached in favorable years from twenty to twenty five million 
pounds ; the sorghum plant has thus far yielded, with but a 
few exceptions, only molasses,! whilst the cultivation of the 
sugar-beet for the manufacture of sugar, has just begun to 
attract attention as worthy a more thorough trial in various parts 
of the country 4 In presenting the above figures concerning 
our home production, I have chosen as far as the sugar-cane 
cultivation is concerned, the results of 1861, the most favora- 
ble year on record. Glancing over the early history of the 

* The home consumption, particularly in the East Indies, is apparently not estimated, 
for the home consumption of cane-sugar obtained from palms, is set down as 90,000 tons. 
(See Hunt's Commercial Review, Vol. 39, Nov., 1858, No. 5.) 

t Mr. B. Moore, of Bloomington, IlK, and others, have produced a large quantity of 
crystallized sorghum-cane sugar. 

J The first attempt to produce beet-sugar within the United States, is credited to 
David Lee Child, of Northampton, Mass., who made about 1,300 lbs. of sugar in 1838. 



46 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. [Feb. 

sugar-cane in Louisiana, we find that the I'arge production of 
sugar, conceded to her above, proves to be based on an excep- 
tionally large crop, and gives by no means a correct idea of 
her past contribution to our home product. The sugar-cane 
was first introduced into Louisiana in 1751 ; M. Dubreuil 
established the first plantation in 1768 ; from 1828 to 1813, its 
average produce per year has been about 82,000 hogsheads 
(90,000,000 pounds) of sugar, besides five to six million gal- 
lons of molasses ; from 1844 to 1857, its annual produce 
averages two hundred and forty-one thousand and eight hun- 
dred hogsheads (each 1,100 lbs.), or 265 million pounds of 
sugar, with about sixteen milhon gallons of molasses ; in 1854, 
there were one thousand four hundred and eighty-one planta- 
tions under cultivation, whilst in 1857, but one thousand two 
hundred and ninety-nine plantations are reported. Tiie last re- 
port (1869) of the National Agricultural Department at Wash- 
ington, D. C, states on the authority of M. Bouchereau, that 
one acre yielded during the past year 1,350 pounds of sugar, 
worth ten cents per pound, besides seventy gallons of molasses, 
worth sixty cents per gallon ; and that improved lands fit for 
sugar-cane cultivation might be bought for from $25 to $40 
per acre. 

While the sugar-planters of Louisiana, a few years before the 
late war, thus apparently struggled to hold their slowly gained 
ground, we cannot help being struck by the prominent position 
which the sugar-cane cultivation acquired during the same 
period of time in the neighboring island of Cuba, which fur- 
nished for exportation from eleven to twelve hundred millions 
of pounds, about one-third of all the sugar that enters the 
markets of the LTnited States and Europe. Unfavorable legis- 
lation with us is frequently cited as a cause of the results in 
Louisiana. Unsettled conditions regarding leading principles 
of political economy, no doubt, act most seriously on industrial 
enterprises, which require time for their healthy development ; 
how much such influence may have interfered here, I do not 
propose to discuss, but shall confine myself to the exposition of 
a cause which has much to do with the past results of the 
Louisiana sugar-cane cultivation. ' A close examination of the 
statistics of the annual production of sugar in Louisiana, for 
over fortv vears nast. leaves scarcelv a doubt about the fact. 



1871.] 



SENATE— No. 75. 



47 



that unfavorable climatic influences — as early frosts, and the 
consequent serious limitation of the liarvesting season, must 
have interfered with the most profitable cultivation of the crop. 
The fluctuations in the annual produce of sugar during suc- 
cessive years are so large and of so frequent occurrence, that 
any other assumption can scarcely account for it. Thus 
we have — 



In 1834, . .. 100,000 hogsheads. 

1835, . . 30,000 " 

1838, . . 70,000 " 

1839, . . 115,000 " 
1843, . . 100,000 



1844, 



200,000 



In 1846, . 


. 140,000 hogsheads. 


1851, . 


. 236,000 


18.53, . 


. 439,976 


1856, . 


. 73,976 " 


1860, . 


. 228,758 


1861, . 


. 459,410 



To rely on the production of one crop exclusively without 
abundance of ready capital is hazardous, even in exceptional 
cases, where the special character of the soil and of the climate, 
or the peculiar condition of the markets, seem to secure a 
monopoly, for these conditions are at the present time in the 
majority of cases but temporary. Wherever large gains are to 
be secured, competition will sooner or later enter the field. The 
cane-sugar industry of Louisiana, judging from past experience, 
cannot stand in unrestricted competition with that of the islands 
of the West Indies ; but a judicious rotation of crops, and the 
introduction of other sound principles of modern farming, may 
produce better results in the future.* 

Our production of maple-sugar is of little consequence as far 
as available quantity is concerned, and still less reliable in regard 
to its annual yield ; since an early spring with warm nights 
may reduce it to a mere trifle. An increase of maple-sugar 
production is scarcely to be expected, and its chances are daily 
diminishing. Many of our barren, rocky hillsides might furnish 
suitable grounds for maple-groves, yet before broad-leafed trees 
will flourish, it is probably necessary that the exhausted ele- 



* The production of sugar from one acre of sugar-cane differs widely, and may be 
greatly increased, by the adoption of rational modes of cultivation. Upon Keunioa 
1,056 lbs. sugar are stated to be the annual results per acre, while upon Java, 4,045 lbs. 
are raised upon the same area. The great success upon Java is ascribed to the adherance 
to a judicious system of rotation, but one-fifth of the lands under cultivation being planted 
at one time with sugar-cane, the cane changing its place every two years, and the weeds 
upon the land being frequently burned, to destroy parasites, etc. 



48 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. [Feb. 

ments of fertility be restored by the growth of one or more 
generations of pines. 

Our production of the sorghum plant, although spreading 
steadily in some portions of the country, has not yet received 
that attention in those localities, which, on account of a warm 
and long season, are particularly qualified to reap the full bene- 
fit of its cultivation. In a paper presented to the New York 
State Agricultural Society at their annual meeting in 1861, and 
printed in their annual report of that year, I stated the results 
of a chemical investigation carried out by me in 1857, concern- 
ing the fitness of the sorghum cane for the manufacture of 
sugar and of superior sirups. These statements have been 
confirmed, as far as its yield of a good quality of sirup is con- 
cerned ; but the manufacture of sugar has not been tried to 
any extent, although there is no substantial reason why within 
some of the Southern States with their favorable climate, a 
part of its sugar might not be advantageously secured in crys- 
tals. A proper defecation of the sorghum juice before its con- 
centration would doubtless accomplish that result. In making 
these statements here, I do not intend to assert that most of our 
Northern, and particularly our North-western States can profit- 
ably engage in the production of sorghum sugar. Localities 
liable to early frost and short seasons had better confine them- 
selves, if at all engaged in sorghum cultivation, to the manufacture 
of sirups, for unripe cane is entirely unfit for the manufacture of 
crystallized sugar. The Middle and some of the Southern 
States have apparently not sufficiently appreciated the value of 
this crop. Associations between neighboring farmers for the 
purpose of supporting one cane-mill in common, no doubt, 
would reap handsome profits. Quick working of the ripe cane 
is essential to success, for there is no practical way as yet pro- 
posed, by which the sorghum cane may be preserved unchanged 
after it has attained its ripeness. 

In view of these present conditions and future prospects of 
existing home resources of one of our most important articles 
for daily comfort, we must regard it as peculiarly proper that 
public attention is turning more and more seriously toward the 
question, whether with intelligent management the production 
of beet sugar as an industrial enterprise can be profitably un- 
dertaken in Massachusetts, as it has been in many countries of 



1871.] SENATE— No. 75. 49 

Europe. Having witnessed personally the working of the 
sugar-cane upon the island of Cuba, and in Louisiana, and 
being also somewhat acquainted with the beet-sugar industry 
of Europe, and the treatment of sugar solutions for refining 
purposes, I do not hesitate to state, that the sugar-beet as a 
mere sugar producing plant is inferior to sugar-cane ; in fact, 
if it were possible to cultivate advantp-geously the best sugar- 
beet alongside of the sugar-cane, bestowing at the same time 
equal care on the cultivation of both plants, and on the treat- 
ment of their juices, they could be scarcely considered rivals. 
Yet, to-day, the beet-sugar manufacture is looked upon in 
Europe by agriculturists and by sugar manufacturers as a de- 
cided success.* England, even with her great facilities for 
importation, and her favorable commercial relations with cane- 
sugar producing countries, is hastening of late to add the 
beet-sugar manufacture to its home industry. English agricul- 
turists have had for years occasion to notice the highly prosper- 
ous condition of the farms in beet-sugar producing districts of 
Germany, France, and elsewhere ; while English capitalists 
begin to believe in the sound foundation of the new business, 
when they notice the steady increase of beet-sugar importation 
into England, amounting in the year 1867 to a value of <£ 1,600- 
000. 

However different the views of the friends of the beet-sugar 
interest may have been at various times regarding its financial 
success as a mere industrial enterprise for a cheaper home 
manufacture of sugar, they all agree at the present day on one 
point, namely, that in connection with agriculture it has proved 
to be one of the most important, and at the same time, most 
successful attempts to stimulate the introduction of sound prin- 
ciples into agricultural pursuits, to develop, consequently, 
agriculture, and to promote a healthy feeling of a common 
interest between agriculture and manufactures, between capi- 

* The beet-sugar manufacture in Europe amounted in 1859 to 812,113,000 pounds ; in 
1869 to 1,256,462,300 pounds, of which was produced— 

By France, 32 per cent. 

German Confederation, 28.5 per cent. 

Austria, 11.8 per cent. 

Russia, 14.83 per cent. 

Belgium, ..." 5.92 per cent. 

Poland, 2.81 per cent. 

Holland, 0.89 per cent. 

7 



60 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. [Feb. 

tal and labor. Improved farm management and unusual 
progress in the modes of separating the sugar at a lower 
cost went hand in hand. European agriculturists have 
accomplished this thrifty union of mutual industrial and ag- 
ricultural interests, only by devoting themselves with almost 
unrivaled perseverance to the task of producing a sugar-beet 
which contains the largest possible amount of sugar in the most 
favorable condition for extraction. The solution of the prob- 
lem, whether beet-sugar manufacture can succeed with us, as a 
paying enterprise, will prove to depend here, as has been the 
case in Europe, on the interest which intelligent agriculturists 
and agricultural chemists will take in raising a suitable sugar- 
beet ; for the quality of the root controls to a large degree the 
financial success of the industrial enterprise. A mere high per- 
centage of sugar in the beet-root is not the sole requirement, 
although a most important one, but the production of a beet 
which contains the largest possible amount of sugar with the 
smallest possible percentage of foreign substances, whether 
saline, nitrogenous, or indifferent, non-nitrogenous organic 
compounds, for practice has established beyond doubt, that for 
every percentage of foreign admixture, about one and a half 
per cent of sugar in the juice will be rendered uncrystallizable, 
and thus converted into a less valuable molasses. It is of the 
utmost importance that the difficulties to be encountered be 
well understood, for a temporary check caused by want of 
proper precaution in producing a suitable beet, or providing the 
necessary apparatus, or oversight in the general management, 
would be deplorable, considering the benefits to be gained for 
agricultural development alone, in case the experiment should 
succeed. It is then to our intelligent farmers these few pages 
are addressed, for the purpose of aiding in the dissemination of 
facts, which have been instrumental in the development of the 
sugar-beet cultivation and the beet-sugar manufacture. In- 
fluenced by such views, I proposed a year ago to enter upon 
experiments concerning sugar-beet cultivation upon the college 
farm, and procured a variety of seeds from successful sugar- 
beet cultivators in Germany, believing that much was gained 
by having the best to begin with. The first year's crop has 
been gathered, and the percentage of sugar of each of the 
thirteen kinds ascertained. Beyond that point no experiments 



1871.] SENATE— No. 75. 51 

have been made ; for as it was too late to control a proper 
manuring of the land used, I left the determination of foreign 
admixtures, which, in quality and quantity are decidedly in- 
fluenced by the kind of manure applied, to another season, 
when the soil can be properly prepared and planted with care- 
fully selected seeds. The results of the past season, being for 
the reason just referred to of a mere introductory character, 
will follow as an Appendix to these pages. 

The Cultivation of Sugar-Beets. 

The rules, by which beets are successfully raised for feeding 
purposes, do not apply to a successful production of the beet 
for sugar. In the first case, quantity is the main aim ; in the 
second, besides quantity, a good quality is essential. A good 
sugar-beet is expected to contain not less than twelve per cent 
of sugar, a small percentage of saline substances, and the least 
possible amount of nitrogenous and non-nitrogenous constitu- 
ents. The more nitrogenous compounds are present, the less 
sugar will be noticed ; for they exert a controlling influence 
on the formation of sugar in the growing beetroot. The saline 
substances, on the other hand, do not affect injuriously the for- 
mation of sugar ; yet, they place it under very disadvantageous 
conditions, as far as its final separation in a crystallized state is 
concerned ; they favor the production of molasses and thus 
increase the manufacturing expenses. The history of the beet- 
sugar industry of later years is not without many illustrations 
of these damaging influences. Some late experiments in this 
country, no doubt, owe their failure, in part at least, to the 
fact, that virgin soil, rich in vegetable mould and saline con- 
stituents, has been used for the cultivation of the sugar-beet. 
Judging from analogy, we cannot .but consider the reported 
gigantic roots and unusually large crops per acre as unfavorable 
features of some recent attempts in beet-sugar manufacture. 
The common mangel is no substitute for the sugar-beet in the 
production of sugar, while the latter is highly valued for feed- 
ing purposes and becoming daily more popular. 

Among the various kinds of sugar-beets at present cultivated 
in Germany, the Silesian white sugar-beet (Achard's beet) is 
almost exclusively employed. Two of its sub-varieties, the 
pear-shaped white Silesian beet, with somewhat drooping leaves, 



52 



AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



[Feb. 



Cwliich is a cross-breed from the wedge-shaped Silesian white 
sugar beet and the Magdeburg chicory beet), and the Quedlin- 
burg variety, with pinkish colored skin and red lines in the 
centre leaves, are particularly valued. The latter requires the 
richest soil. The French Vilmorin sugar-beets, on account of 
their superior saccharine property are also frequently raised ; yet 
as they are more Ifable to degenerate in the pits during the 
winter season, they are only cultivated to a limited extent, and 
are worked before frost during the latter part of September and 
October. The sugar-beet in its present state, a child of cultiva- 
tion, is a variety of an unsightly biennial plant, beta marUima, 
which grows wild along the coast of the Mediterranean, in south- 
western Europe. A comparison of the following analyses of 
the ash constituents of the wild and the cultivated plant gives 
some idea to what extent a systematic cultivation for partic- 
ular objects, aided by climate and soil, may affect the normal 
mineral constituents of a plant. The wild beet-root may be 
called a soda plant, while the cultivated sugar-beet is decidedly 
a potassa-plant. 



Wild Beet-root. (Way.) 



Potassa, 
Soda, . 
Lime, . 
Magnesia, 
Ohlorine, 
Sulphuric acid. 
Phosphoric acid. 
Silicic acid. 



Cultivated Sugar-beet 

Potassa, 
Soda, . 
Lime, . 
Magnesia, 
Chlorine, 
Sulphuric acid. 
Phosphoric acid, 
Silicic acid. 



30.1 
34.2 
3.1 
3.2 
18.5 
3.8 
3.5 
3.6 



■100.00 



(BOUSSINGAULT.) 



48.9 
7.6 
8.8 
5,5 
6.5 
2.0 
7.6 

13.1 



•100.00 



1871.] SENATE— No. 75. 53 

It is well known, that, as a general rule, the various mineral 
constituents of a plant are indispensable to its growth, so that, 
if any one is wanting, the rest are thereby rendered incapable 
of supporting it. Our whole system of manuring, and even of 
rotation, rests upon this premise, and practical experience man- 
ifestly confirms it. 

The composition of the ash constituents of the highly cul- 
tivated sugar-beet, compared with that of the wild beet, furnishes 
us with a striking instance as to what extent elements of a 
similar chemical cliaracter, for instance, potassa and soda, 
may be substituted for each other. We may also notice, how- 
ever gradually such substitution may have been accomplished, 
that it inevitably affects the normal physiological processes going 
on in those plants which are subjected to such treatment. 
Whatever favors abnormal growth in plants surely aids in 
hastening on their premature unfitness for propagation, and 
their final extinction. A comparative study of our garden 
plants regarding their ash and other constituents, in their wild 
and cultivated state, would furnish us most likely with numer- 
ous instances of differences similar to those noticed in the case 
of the sugar-beet, and investigations of that kind could not but 
point out to us very important facts concerning the most advan- 
tageous selection of special manures for the production of a 
desired abnormal growth of our cultivated plants. Louis Vil- 
morin, the celebrated French gardener and seedsman, states 
that he raised, by proper selection, sugar-beets which contained 
in their juice not less than 21 per cent, of sugar, thus surpass- 
ing in sweetness the juice of the sugar-cane. 

Selection of Varieties op Beet. 
The successful cultivation of the sugar-beet begins with the 
selection of seed beets. Vilmorin's views on this subject are 
considered of great weight ; a detailed exposition of his rules 
may be found in the Journal d'Agriculture Pratique, No. 5, 
1858. He advises the selection of healthy, well-shaped beet-roots 
of from 1^ to 2 pounds weight, those, which with a large yield, 
show the most rings of leaf marks are preferred, — the specific 
gravity of their juice ought not to be less than 1.05 ; those 
which contain a juice of from 1.06 to 1.07 specific gravity are 
of superior character ; seed-beets ought not to be taken from a 



54 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. [Feb. 

soil which for the first time is turned into use for the produc- 
tion of sugar-beets, and the seed-beet fields ought to be kept 
separated from the general sugar-beet fields.* 

Soil for Sugar-Beet Cultivation. • 
The best soil for the cultivation of sugar-beets is a mellow, 
deep, sandy loam with a free and permeable subsoil, — a soil 
named by German agriculturists a rich, first-class barley soil. 
A sandy loam, if deep and rich in well . decomposed organic 
matter, is preferable to a clayish soil, for the latter becomes too 
compact and hard in a dry season, particularly after heavy rain 
showers, and thus frequently interferes with the growth of the 
fleshy roots ; and in wet seasons it produces a watery beet of in- 
ferior saccharine properties. In case the subsoil is not perfectly 
free, under-drainage becomes indispensable. A stony soil, or 
a thin surface soil, with gravelly subsoil, or a deep virgin soil 
with large quantities of half-decayed vegetable matter, are very 
objectionable ; and stagnant waters cause the premature decay 
of the roots at their lower termination. 

Favorable physical properties of the soil are of the first im- 
portance, for fitness of the soil, as far as a necessary amount of 
plant food is concerned, may be secured by a carefully selected 
system of rotation, supported by a proper selection of special 
manures. Inferior kinds of soil, may, to a certain degree in 
some exceptional cases, answer for beet-sugar cultivation, yet 
they ought not to be solely relied, upon as a safe basis for beet- 
sugar manufacture. A moderately warm and moist climate 
seems to be best adapted to this crop ; the northern sections of 
Germany and France being considered more successful than the 
southern parts of those countries. This observation may find 
its confirmation in the United States. Whether a change from 
Wisconsin to California merely on account of a warm climate 
would be a judicious move, future experience may teach, — but 
past experience does not point in that direction. The sugar- 
beets raised in southern portions of Europe have been found to 
contain more saline constituents than those raised in northern 
sections, a circumstance which must counteract their superior 
richness on sugar. A careful change to deep plowing is for 

* The amount of beet seed raised per acre, varies from 12,500 to 25,000 pounds. 



1871.] SENATE— No. 75. 65 

obvious reasons highly recommended, provided the subsoil 
proves of a fit quality. In no case is the soil to be plowed to a 
less depth than eight inches ; from ten to sixteen inches and 
deeper being desirable. Wherever deep plowing is undertaken 
for the first time, it is done during the fall, and the lands are 
immediately afterwards well manured. The rules for preparing 
the soil may be summed up as follows : Manure in the fall and 
plow the manure in deep ; use only well rotted compost, if you 
are obliged to manure in the spring ; begin the work in autumn 
at any rate, and turn the soil two or three times ; do not work 
the soil when wet ; pulverize it with the best implements, and as 
soon as possible ; let not much time be lost between the last 
mechanical operation and the seeding. 

Stable manure is the basis of the whole system of manuring ; 
commercial or artificial manures are only relied on as an aid. 
For this reason sugar-beets are usually raised as second crop, 
giving a chance for a thorough disintegration of the stable man- 
ure ; the effect of the latter is supported in the second year 
previous to the planting of the sugar-beet, by a special com- 
mercial manure. The condition and the composition of the 
soil, quite naturally, control the whole system of manuring. As 
the soil in both respects will differ more or less, practical experi- 
ence does not point out any one manure, which will answer 
under all circumstances ; yet sufficient is known to assert what 
kind of manure has a good effect, and what has a bad effect on 
the sugar-beet, as far as the percentage of sugar and its final 
successful separation are concerned. The production of sugar 
being the main object, and on account of its high price affect- 
ing most decidedly the balance sheet, it is but natural that the 
agriculturist has now and then to compromise in the interest of 
the sugar manufacturer. Large crops of watery sugar-beets are 
not economical, where, as for instance in Germany, the beet-root 
is taxed ; in France, where the sugar resulting from the sugar- 
beet is taxed, spring manuring is more freely resorted to. 

Plants differ less in regard to the various kinds of food they 
need, than in regard to the quantities of each kind. Stable 
manure and plant ash are for this reason the only universal 
manures we recognize ; the former is preferable to the latter, on 
account of its decided effect on the physical condition of the 
soil. The beet partakes largely of atmospheric food, and as the 



56 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. [Feb. 

proper physical condition of the soil increases its disposition to 
absorb atmospheric plant food, we find that stable manure, and 
green crops turned under, are the best fertilizers ; the only 
precaution recommended consisting in the advice to apply them 
in time to have them disintegrated before the beets are planted. 
The successful sugar-beet cultivator adheres to the rule to sell 
nothing without replacing it in some form or other, except what 
he has drawn from the atmosphere, the sugar, — considering 
almost everything else part of his real estate, which he cannot 
dispose of without injuring its value. Whatever he sells, be- 
sides sugar, is merely a matter of exchange ; the mineral con- 
stituents, and to a certain extent the nitrogen, which the articles 
sold contain, whether in the form of milk, grain, or live stock, 
produced upon his farm, he brings carefully back, either by buy- 
ing fertilizers, or better, by buying hay to manufacture the 
manure on his grounds. 

We find no definite relation between the organic portion of 
plants and their mineral constituents ; yet we know that an 
abundant supply of both nitrogenous and mineral substances 
controls the amount of oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon, absorbed 
for the formation of the organic constituents of plants, and that 
the available amount of these substances thus manifestly decides 
their final annual growth. It is thought best for this reason 
to calculate the amount of manure required for the production 
of a satisfactory crop from the quantity of nitrogen and mineral 
constituents, which a full crop contains. The form in which we 
apply the manures usually varies widely. Tliey are rarely of a 
homogeneous nature, and require, therefore, more or less time 
for disintegration and final absorption ; larger quantities of 
manure are consequently applied in starting a crop than it actu- 
ally requires. It may be of interest to some to notice a few of 
those figures, which are commonly used as bases for the calcu- 
lations of the time required to reap the full benefit of various 
kinds of manure. 



1871.] 



SENATE— No. 75. 



67 





1 year. 


a years. 


3 years. 


•4 years. 


Stable manure, 


50 per cent. 


25 per cent. 


15 per cent. 


10 per cent. 


Flour of bone, 


30 " 


30 " 


25 " 


15 


Oil cake, 


50 


30 


20 « 


15 


Peruvian guano, . 


60 « 


30 " 


10 « 


15 " 



Pulverized commercial manures, as a general rule, are ex- 
pected to work quickly, as slow action would seriously enhance 
their -cost, adding interest of outlay to the capital ; and most of 
them are designed to supply only special wants, and aid thereby 
in the production of large special crops. They therefore, if not 
proportionately supported by stable manure, green manuring, 
and a judicious rotation of crops, hasten on the exhaustion of 
the soil or general mineral plant-food. In some cases, as with 
guano, their effect depends, in an undesirable degree on the 
weather, whether dry or wet. Special manures occupy for 
these reasons a subordinate position. Potassa and phosphoric 
acid are, strictly speaking, the only plant constituents which 
have to be bought in consequence of the extensive stock-feeding 
usually connected with the farm management of sugar-beet 
cultivation for manufacturing purposes, particularly in cases 
where the molasses is sold, which contains a very large propor- 
tion of the soluble saline constituents of the beetroots. Having 
attempted to enumerate some of the rules by which practice 
should be guided, it may be but proper to speak somewhat more 
in detail of the special effects of some of these manures. Fresh 
barnyard manure, particularly of horses and sheep, or liquid 
stable manure, or poudrette, and all manures containing uric 
acid are decidedly objectionable in the spring preceding the 
planting of the sugar-beet, for they induce an excessive growth' 
of the leaves, shortening thereby the time for the ripening of 
the beet-roots, while favoring an increase of their nitrogenous 
constituents. They also cause a large absorption of saline con- 
stituents. In case barn manure has to be applied during the 
spring preceding the raising of the sugar-beet, cow manure is 
considered the least objectionable, but well-rotted compost is 



58 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. [Feb. 

preferred. Guano and oil-cake, without any admixture of 
superphosphate of lime, act similarly to the most objectionable 
fresh stable manures. Saline compounds, as saltpetre, salt, 
Stassfurth manure-salt, &c,, increase the quantity of beets, yet 
render them, if applied freely, rich in saline constituents. A 
mixture of one hundred and thirty pounds of Peruvian guano, 
and three hundred to four hundred pounds of superphosphate 
of lime per acre, or Chili saltpetre with superphosphate of 
lime, or wood ashes, or flour of bone, or well-rotted bones 
with wood ashes, are considered the best special manures for 
the production of superior sugar-beet. Green manuring, if 
applied in time, is highly recommended on account of its effects 
on the physical properties of the soil. Judicious selection of 
crops for rotation is most carefully resorted to in the interest of 
economy of manure and an undiminished productiveness of the 
soil. To render an efficient system of rotation possible, but one- 
fourth of the entire area under cultivation is planted annually 
with sugar-beets. In case a rotation of five or six years is pos- 
sible the results are still more satisfactory. In the absence of a 
large farm, a number of smaller ones may thus successfully 
support a beet-sugar factory ; and the soundest basis for a sugar- 
beet establishment consists in making arrangements by which 
the farmer is to have an interest in the produce of sugar. To 
engage merely in the cultivation of the sugar-beet for supplying 
existing factories is, however, considered a paying business, par- 
ticularly if the farmer secures to himself in part at least the 
vegeetable refuse, as press-cake, &c., for stock feeding. 

Planting op the Seed and Treatment op the Sugar-Beet. 
The seed are planted by hand or by machine ; theoretically 
from two to three pounds would be necessary for one acre, but 
in practice from fifteen to seventeen pounds are used. The 
seeds, after being soaked in water, if planted by hand, are 
placed usually at a distance of fourteen inches apart ; if sowed 
by machine (of Garret's patent) they are dropped about eight 
inches apart in rows about twenty inches apart, which allows 
one horse with implement to pass between. In the latter case 
from 28,500 to 30,000 plants could be raised upon one acre. 
A larger space around each plant favors an excessive enlarge- 
ment of the roots, a result not at all desirable, for large beets 
are usually watery. 



1871.] SENATE— No. 75. 59 

A beet-root from one to one and one-half pounds is prefera- 
ble to those from two to three pounds. Every common beet 
seed, containing by its natural construction from two to three 
germs, will produce as many plants, of which the strongest is 
left, whilst the rest are pulled up or otherwise destroyed in due 
time. The process of thinning out the plants takes place as soon 
as the roots have reached a length of from three to four inches, 
and, if possible, shortly after a rain, to prevent ihe loosening of 
the soil around the specimen left. A transplanting of sugar- 
beet plants from a separate bed to the lands for final cultivation 
is rarely resorted to ; it is only recommended to fill out the gaps 
produced by the failure of seeds. Whenever this failure 
acquires any considerable proportion in the beet fields, a re- 
seeding is preferred, provided the season has not too far advanced. 
The soil around the young plant should be frequently loosened 
by proper implements (every two or three weeks), and the roots 
kept carefully covered, until the leaves have acquired their 
proper development early in June. Such treatment destroys 
the weeds and increases the hygroscopic and general absorptive 
properties of the soil, and thus favors highly an undisturbed, 
early and rapid development of the leaves. The latter, it is 
asserted, exert a controlling influence on the formation of sugar. 
M. Vilmorin considers a large number of rows of leaf marks, 
as previously stated, an essential property of a good sugar-beet. 
The leaves absorb as a general rule atmospheric food in propor- 
tion to their number and size. The sooner they acquire a good 
size, and the more numerous they are, the better are the 
chances of a copious formation of sugar, for this apparently 
depends to a great degree on the supply of atmospheric food. 
There are three distinct periods in the growth of the beet, viz. : 
the development of the leaves, which closes usually within the 
first half of June ; the formation of the roots which is accom- 
plished by the middle of September or first part of October ; 
and, finally, the production of the seeds which takes place in the 
second year. The ripeness of the roots is indicated by a change 
in the color of leaves from a deep green to a yellowish tint. 
Those varieties which show a particular inclination to grow out 
of the soil are considered inferior. As soon as the leaves have 
reached their size, which happens in ordinary years usually in 
the fore part of June, the loosening of the soil and the cover- 



60 



AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



[Feb. 



ing up of the beet-roots ceases, leaving them undisturbed in 
their growth. To convey some idea concerning the peculiar 
features in the growth of the sugar-beet plant, I insert here 
some of the results of an interesting investigation in this 
direction by Dr. P. Bretschneider. The weights are in 
grammes, one gramme being equal to 15.43 grains : — 



Weight of the 


Weight of the 


Koot. 


Leaves. 


0.2005 


- 


5.3000 


- 


78.3000 


286. 


109.600 


226. 


166. 


224. 


124. 


106. 


228. 


121. 


586. 


346. 


169. 


38. 


204. 


50. 



Proportion between 
Root and Leaves. 



Percentage 
of Sugar. 



June 12, 
21, 

July 9, 
16, 
29, 

Aug. 8, 
26, 

Sept. 19, 
19, 
19, 



1 to 3.65 
1 to 2.06 
1 to 1.34 
1 to 0.56 
1 to 0.53 
1 to 0.59 
1 to 0.22 
1 to 0.25 



2.13 

4.17 
4.99 
8.86 

11.27 
11.52 
11.45 
10.80 
13.15 



The harvesting of the sugar-beet root begins, when the outer 
leaves turn yellow and dry, which in different seasons and 
localities may vary from the fore part of September to the first 
of October ; the past season being with us unusually dry and 
warm caused a somewhat premature dying out of the leaves 
upon our experimental field. The gathering of the leaves, even 
in part, at any preceding stage of the growth of the plants, is 
seriously objected to, for it affects most decidedly the final yield 
of sugar. Nature, in its wonderful economy of matter and force, 
always provides for the continuance of species under the most 
advantageous conditions, storing up in some of the organs of 
plants under the influence of a favorable summer temperature 
a maximum of such compounds as will enable them to develop 
their organs for propagation almost independent of outside 
assistance. The flowers and subsequently the seeds draw upon 



1871.] SENATE— No. 75. 61 

the food accumulated in roots, stalks and leaves, and the seeds 
themselves again store up an amount to enable the embryonic 
germ to provide itself with such organs as will fit it to fulfill 
its mission in the production of a new plant. Sugar is undeni- 
ably one of those substances which are required to support the 
beet-root plant in this last stage of gnowth. 

The amount of sugar in the sugar-beet is largest when the 
root has just attained its ripeness ; subsequently, it diminishes 
gradually in consequence of advancing growth. To preserve 
undiminished the maximum percentage of sugar till the time 
of manufacture is somewhat difficult. There is no such thing 
in nature as absolute rest. If it were practicable to keep the 
beet-root frozen from the beginning to the close of the manu- 
facturing season, it might prove to be the most efficient mode, 
so far as the preservation of sugar is concerned. The manu- 
facture of the sugar begins usually in the latter part of Sep- 
tember, and the beet-roots are daily carried in such quantities 
from the fields as the factory can dispose of. Those varieties, 
like the Vilmorin beets, which do not keep well in the pits over 
winter, are first gathered and worked up. As soon as frost 
becomes imminent, all the roots are gathered after the removal 
of the leaves, which operation is carried on upon the fields. 
They are then buried in suitable pits without loss of time. 
The beets are raised out of the soil by means of forks, and the 
leaves cut off with sword-like knives about one-half to one 
inch from the root. To cut off the top of the beet-roots from 
those which are to be kept over winter is disapproved of. The 
use of the plow in harvesting is also objectionable on account 
of frequent laceration of the roots. 

The mature roots after being freed from the leaves in the 
manner just described, are with the adhering soil laid carefully 
into shallow pits about six feet long by three feet wide, and 
from four to five feet in depth. These are, finally, covered with 
soil to protect them against frost. Small pits of the size just 
described are preferred, for they allow a better control of the 
temperature than large pits, which frequently suffer from an 
undesirable increase of heat, causing the growth of leaves or 
degeneration by decay. The covering of soil is gradually in- 
creased in thickness with the advancing season, amounting 
usually to a final thickness of three feet, and this is sometimes 



62 



AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



[Feb. 



rendered more efficient by a thin outer layer of stable manure. 
To secure a uniform moderate temperature is the sole object 
of these proceedings, and pits beginning to heat, are worked up 
without delay. The pits must be located upon very dry land on 
or near the beet fields, and in such a position that no accumu- 
lation of water can injuriously affect them. 

To give some idea about the changes which a good sugar-beet 
undergoes in the pits even under quite favorable circumstances, 
I insert the following statement of H. Rake. The same kind 
of beet-roots contained — 



In October, 1862 : 
Cellulose, 

Water, .... 
Cane sugar, . 
Grape sugar. 
Mineral constituents, 
Albuminous and extractive substances, 



3.49 
82.06 
12.40 

0.75 
1.30 





100.00 


February, 1863 : 




Cellulose, ^ 


. 2.52 


Water, 


. 84.36 


Cane sugar, 


. 10.60 


Grape sugar, 


. 0.65 


Mineral constituents, .... 


. 0.63 


Albuminous and extractive substances, . 


. 1.20 



100.00 



Whenever the roots begin to rot the sugar is lessened ; the 
loss due to the sprouting of the leaves may amount to two per 
cent more than the preceding analysis states. 

Yield of Sugar-Beets. 
The numerous varieties of beets differ widely in regard to 
their annual yield, independent of the conditions of season, 
upon the same soil and under the same treatment. Whilst 
common mangels have been raised upon a suitable soil, in ex- 
ceptional cases, at the rate of from ninety-four to one hundred 



1871.] 



SENATE— No. 75. 



63 



and ten tons per acre, the sugar-beet never yields at anything 
like such a rate. .The following statement respecting the yield 
and amount of sugar obtained from three kinds of beets is quite 
interesting and suggestive regarding the important question, 
what kind of beet roots are the most desirable for cultivation 
for the manufacture of sugar. 



NAMES. 


Annual yield 
of Root8 per acre. 


Percentage of 
Sugar. 


Amount of Sug.ir in 
the entire Root Crop. 


Metz (fodder beet), . 


86,457 pounds. 


4.5 per cent. 


3,890 pounds. 


Imperial (sugar-beet), 


59,613 « 


10.51 " 


6,265 " 


Silesian White(sugar-beet) , 


52,787 « 


13.64 


7,200 " 



These few numerical statements teach most decidedly, that 
mere quantity will not insure success for the beet-sugar interest. 
We find in practice as a general rule that the mean annual yield 
of sugar-beets is less than in the cases cited. In Silesia, the 
crop averages from 18,000 to 19,000 pounds per acre, and the 
beet juice itself is expected to contain throughout the entire 
sugar-making season from 11 to 13 per cent of sugar, which 
indicates that scarcely any roots with less than 12.5 per cent 
of sugar are worked in that district. In Saxony, from 23,500 
to 24,000 pounds are obtained per acre, and, in exceptional 
cases, even as high as from 30,000 to 31,000 pounds are reported. 
In France, where the sugar resulting, and not the roots used for 
its manufacture, are taxed, the annual yield is larger than in 
Germany, one acre yielding there from 38,000 to 40,000 
pounds of roots. Yet a larger final yield of sugar is claimed 
from one acre in Germany than in Prance.* Tlie cost of pro- 
duction in Germany is set down at from 21 to 22 cents per 
hundred pounds of sugar-beet roots. 

Those who sell their sugar-beets at the factory, receive from 



* In Germany 100 pounds of sugar-beet roots are taxed (8 sgr.) 19.44 cents (1869). 
In France every (52 kilogrammes) 114.4 pounds of beet sugar are taxed (13 francs and 75 
centimes) 2.66 dollars. Every 1,000 kilogrammes or 2,200 pounds of sugar-beet roots 
yield on an average (52 kilogrammes) 114.4 pounds of sugar in the form in which it is 
taxed. (Walkhoff.) 



64 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. [Feb. 

25 to 27 cents per hundred pounds, together with one-half of 
the vegetable refuse or press-cake. 

Not unfrequently, separate contracts are made for furnishing 
small beets not exceeding two pounds in weight. The sugar- 
beet cultivation usually becomes a prominent feature of agri- 
cultural industry in the vicinity of beet-sugar factories, for 
although the manufacturer of sugar is, as a general rule, to 
some extent at least a producer of beets, he rarely limits 
himself to the amount of his own produce. He finds it profit- 
able to purchase a certain quantity, if for no other reason, in 
order to be enabled to cultivate his own lands on a liberal 
system of rotation. He, also, frequently retains one-half of 
the press-cake and other refuse resulting from the working of 
an additional amount of beet-roots, for stock feeding and 
manuring purposes. 

Yield op Juice. 
The sugar-beet contains about 82 per cent of water, and 80 
per cent of its juice may be obtained by subjecting the crushed 
beet to a powerful pressure. Tlie relation of the power applied 
to the quantity of juice obtained may be inferred from the 
following statement of Walkhoff: — 

By 50 pounds of pressure to the square inch, 60 per cent. 

gQ U (( U U U Q^ U 

400 " " " . " " 75 " 

750 " " " " " 80 " 

The press-plates are made 14 inches or more square, and 24 
pounds of pulp for every 100 square inches of press surface is con- 
sidered the best proportion. The roots are usually changed into 
a pulp by circular saws fastened upon two hollow iron rollers run- 
ning in opposite directions. Water is added (from 15 to 30 per 
cent) while preparing the pulp to reduce the amount of sugar 
left in the press-cakes. By means of this and numerous other 
devices from 80 to 87 per cent of the actual juice in the beet- 
roots is secured. The profitable addition of water is limited by 
the expense arising from the evaporation of a diluted juice.* 

* One hundred pounds of coal are required for the evaporation of 500 pounds of water, 
in the course of beet-sugar manufacture. 



1871.] SENATE— No. 75. 65 

The extra expense necessary to procure more than 80 per cent 
of the juice diminishes largely its value, nevertheless improved 
methods are constantly sought and are doubtless atiainable. 

The press method and Roberts'* modification of warm and 
cold maceration of the fresh beets have apparently the warmest 
advocates. It would be a vain attempt on my part to treat here 
in a becoming manner on these questions. I propose to leave 
that task to some future occasion, when the manufacture of 
beet-sugar will be discussed. The supply of labor, fuel, and 
water, the condition of the sugar market, &g., control, as every 
manufacturer is aware, in such a degree the choice of appara- 
tus and modes of operation, that very little information could 
be gleaned from a general discussion without some detailed ex- 
planation. To the farmer, the vegetable refuse, as press-cake 
and like substances, is of prime importance, and the various 
modes of abstracting the juice from the beet roots affect him 
only in so far as the value of the refuse for feeding purposes is 
concerned. A comparison of the composition of the juices 
obtained by means of a powerful hydraulic press and by Roberts' 
maceration, (or the dialytic mode), can aid in understanding 
this question of which I shall have to treat somewhat more in 
detail hereafter : — 

I. 

Beet juice procured by the aid of a hydraulic press contains : — 



Sugar, 


12.410 


pe 


r cent. 


Potassa and soda compounds, 


0.458 




a 


Lime and magnesia. 


0.187 




a 


Nitrogenous substance, . 


1.418 




a 


Non-nitrogenous organic substan- 








ces, 


1.048 




a 



II. 

Beet juice procured by Roberts' diffusion apparatus with an 
addition of 15 per cent of water, contains : — 

* Roberts claims to secure 94 per cent of the juice by adding but 15 per cent of 
water, and carr\'ing on the first osmotic maceration at 87 to 80 degrees centigrade, and 
the remainder at a common temperature. 

9 



66 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. [Feb. 

Sugar, 11.580 per cent. 

Potassa and soda compounds, . 0.441 " 
Lime and magnesia, . . . 1.191 " 
Nitrogenous substance, . . . 0.791 " 
Non-nitrogenous organic substan- 
ces, 0.983 " 

Yield op Sugar. 
According to the mode of operation pursued, more or less 
sugar will be left with the cellular refuse mass. The residue 
of the hydraulic press contains from 3.6 to 4.8 per cent of 
sugar, or 0.76 per cent of the amount in the original sugar- 
beet ; while Roberts' mode leaves but 0.1 to 0.2 per cent of 
sugar. Between these figures lie the quantities of sugar left 
by the application of other modes of operation. With the 
removal of the juice begins consequently the loss of sugar, 
which amounts during the whole operation for its final separa- 
tion to about 3.5 per cent under a good management of exist- 
ing methods. To set down losses which occur in a branch of 
manufacture where peculiar skill so decidedly bears upon the 
final results, is no doubt quite arbitrary ; but it is of interest 
to notice where they usually occur, and to what degree they 
affect the final results in many instances. The following state- 
ment is presented as a fair one and may serve the purpose just 
specified : — 

One hundred parts of sugar-beet roots, under fair manage- 
ment, are liable to lose sugar as follows : 

In the pits by degeneration, . . 2.00 per cent. 

By change into grape sugar, . . 0.54 " 

In process of filtration of the juice, . 0.14 " 

In defecation and carbonization, . 0.21 " 

In juice left in the press-cake, . . 0.76 " 

Total loss, 3.65 " 

One hundred parts of sugar existing in the beet roots were, 
in one case, accounted for in the following way at the close of 
manufacture : — 



1871.] SENATE— No. 75. 67 

Crystallized sugar, .... 62.46 per cent. 

Sugar left in the molasses, . . 14.75 " 

Lost during manufacture, . . 22.79 " 

Left in the press-cakes, . . . 11.48 '^ 

Eight per cent of sugar from the beet is at present assumed 
to be the actual result of most factories with improved modes 
of operation and superior sets of apparatus ; some factories 
claim even more. The importance of an increase in the yield 
of crystallized sugar may perhaps be best inferred from a case 
reported by W. Crookes, F. R. S., in his late publication 
on beet-sugar manufacture with reference to England. Mr. 
Baruchson, the beet-sugar manufacturer, is reported as stat- 
ing that the factory cost £10,845; 150,000 pounds of sugar- 
beet root has been worked per day for five months ; the ex- 
penses for labor amounted per year to X5,190 ; the total 
expenses per year had been X 13,980; the total receipts per 
year were X 20,470 ; the profits thus had amounted to <£ 6,490, 
or 24.75 per cent on the first outlay ; 6.5 per cent of crystal- 
lized sugar had been the result. He further states that one- 
half per cent of increase of the yield of crystallized sugar 
would be equal to 7.5 per cent additional profits ; eight per 
cent of crystallized sugar from every 100 pounds of beet roots 
worked, would thus insure a profit of 48 per cent. Accepting 
this statement as correct, there is no doubt, but that the Eng- 
lish beet- sugar manufacture ought to prosper under their 
present revenue law. In Germany, where eight per cent of 
crystallized sugar is obtained, the yield per acre varies from 
1,520 to 2,270 pounds of sugar. In France, where but six per 
cent of sugar is obtained (Walkhoff), the yield is said to be 
from 1,706 to 2,650 pounds per acre. The same authority 
states that the average expenses in Germany for the production 
of sugar per acre, taking the average yield of beet roots as 
from 23,000 to 24,000 pounds, amount to from $132 to $133, 
of which the government takes in form of taxes from $45 to 
$46 ; while in France, assuming the average yield of beet roots 
per acre to be from 36,000 to 37,000 pounds, and separating 
114.4 pounds of sugar from every 2,200 pounds of beet roots, 
the whole average expenses per acre for beet-sugar amounts to 
from $161 to $162, of which the government draws for taxes 



68 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. [Feb. 

on sugar $50.75. The expenses in the two countries are 
divided among the different operations in the following pro- 
portion : — 

In Germany :* 

Manure, . . . . . . 14.48 per cent. 

Cultivation of beets, . . . 11.20 " 

Taxes on sugar, .... 34.82 " 

Manufacturing expenses, . . . 39.40 " 

In France : 

Manure and cultivation of beets, . 24.40 per cent. 

Taxes on sugar, . , . .31.59 " 

Manufacturing expenses, . . . 44.01 " 

Taking the produce of an American acre as equal to from 
23,000 to 23,500 pounds, and presuming an average percentage 
of sugar in the beets of from 11 to 12 per cent, allowing 
at the same time 80 per cent of juice, which contains but 9.6 
per cent of the sugar in the beets, and calculating, finally, but 
6.5 per cent of crystallized sugar as obtainable from 100 
pounds of beets, an American acre would yield 1,500 pounds, 
which at seven cents per poundf would amount to $105. 
The molasses obtained from the sugar-beet is not fit for house- 
hold consumption on account of its unpleasant saline taste. 
It is fermented in most cases for the production of alcohol, and 
rarely fed to live stock, as its continued use, even in small 
quantities, is not considered safe, from its effect on the digestive 
organs. Its value as food is about one-half that of good hay, 
and its effect is similar to that of oil-cake. 1.8 pounds of 
molasses per day mixed with clover hay or even straw has 
increased the yield of milk. Sometimes the molasses is mixed 
with caustic lime or the carbonate, and composted for manure. 

* Recent reliable private communications coming from different sections of Germany- 
state the expenses for the production of sugar-beet roots, when in the pits, in one case at 
$46 and in another at $59.50 per acre. Land rent in both cases was equal and 
amounted to $12.50 per acre; manure in the first case amounted to nearly one-half, 
in the second case to but one-third of all expenses. The price of labor caused the 
difference. 

t To assume a higher value is unsafe, considering the unsettled views concerning the 
degree of protection which our sugar industry may claim. 



1871.] 



SENATE— No. 75. 



69 



41.3 


it 


16.1 


a 


10.8 


a 


22.6 


(( 



Average Composition op Beet-Sugar Molasses. 
Albuminous substances, . . . 9.2 per cent. 
Sugar, .... 
Other organic substances, . 
Saline compounds, . 
Water, .... 

100.0 " 

The saline constituents of course differ somewhat in every 
case, particularly as far as the lime compounds are concerned. 
The following analytical results, (Trommer & Rode), may giVe 
some idea about their general character. 

One hundred pound's of ash constituents of beet-sugar molas- 
ses contain of: — 



Potassa, .... 


. 30.46 


per cent 


Soda, .... 


. 10.12 




Lime, .... 


. 26.62 




Sesqui-oxide of iron. 


. 00.04 




Carbonic acid. 


. 19.07 




Sulphuric acid, 


. 1.92 




Silicic acid. 


. 0.06 




Chlorine, 


. 10.03 






100.00 


a 



The residual liquid left after the fermentation of the molas- 
ses is usually evaporated and the solid mass subsequently 
calcined. The beet-sugar manufacture furnishes in this form 
quite a large quantity of valuable saline compounds for general 
industrial purposes. One hundred pounds of these calcined 
saline substances contain from 45 to 48 per cent of soluble 
constituents of a composition more or less corresponding with 
the following figures : — 



Carbonate of potassa, 
Carbonate of soda, . 
Chloride of potassium, 
Sulphate of potassa, 



27.60 per cent. 
4.70 " 
6.75 " 
6.75 " 



45.80 « 



70 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. [Feb. 

One single beet-sugar factory at Wagehausel (Germany), 
sends every year 200,000 pounds of such potassa salts into 
market, which is mainly used for the manufacture of nitre. 
The molasses contains by far the largest portion of the soluble 
saline constituents of the sugar-beets, particularly the potassa 
compounds which must be returned to the ^oil directly or indi- 
rectly. The cheaper crude sulphate of potassa of Stassfurth is 
bought at present in exchange for the carbonate of potassa 
sold.* Distilleries are frequently connected with sugar beet 
manufactories. 

The Cellular Residue op the Beet Root. 
The juice is obtained in different ways, and, according to the 
mode adopted, the quality of the residue is affected. The press- 
cakes resulting from the application of the hydraulic press, 
which is the main apparatus employed, are compact in conse- 
quence of packing the pulp into bags or coarse linen cloths 
before subjecting it to the press. 100 pounds of beet roots fur- 
nish from 18 to 20 pounds of press-cakes, which consist, in case 
a very powerful press is used, of : — 



Albumen, 


. 




. 1.336 


per cent 


Potassa, 


, . 




. 6.487 




Sugar, . 


. . 




. 4.945 




Cellulose, 


. , 




. 11.922 




Saline matters, 




. 1.180 




Water, . 


• 




. 74.180 





100.000 " 

These cakes are highly valued for feeding purposes ; 100 
pounds of press cakes are valued at 29.6 cents, when hay is 
worth 20 dollars per ton ; the cellular residue of beets left 
after the abstraction of the juice by other modes is as a general 
rule less valuable. For instance, the residue after the treatment 
with centrifugal apparatus and the subsequent displacement 

* The producer of potatoes sells in an average crop of 7.41 acres (three hectares) the 
mineral constituents of four crops of wheat besides 600 pounds of potassa, and in an 
average crop of beet roots from the same area the mineral constituents of four wheat 
crops, besides 1,000 pounds of potassa. — Leibig. 



1871.] SENATE— No. 75. 71 

process is considered worth but 16.9 cents per 100 pounds ; 
that obtained by liot maceration of dried beet roots is held at 
from 24 to 25 cents per 100 pounds, while that obtained by a 
maceration of the fresh beet roots after Roberts' improved 
method, (free from an excess of lime), is valued at from 7.2 to 
9.1 cents per 100 pounds. The last named residue contains but 
from 5.5 to 6.9 per cent of dry substance, while common press- 
cakes contain 25 per cent. Roberts' mode of operation leaves 
about 70 pounds of cellular residuum for every 100. pounds of 
beet, which contains, as stated previously, more nitrogenous 
matter in proportion to dry substance, but less sugar than 
common press-cakes. It is worth as fodder about one-quarter 
as much, according to the estimate of Grouven. 

One and one-half tons of press cakes are assumed in practice 
as the produce from one Prussian morgen,* or 4,700 pounds 
per acre, so that allowing a value of 29 cents for every 100 
pounds, the whole amount of press-cakes from one acre would 
be worth 113.60. Moreover, as 100 pounds of common press- 
cakes contain 25 per cent of dry substance, 4,700 pounds 
contain 1,175 pounds ; and as the dry substance of any article 
of vegetable food is known to furnish 1.75 times its weight in 
common stable manure, 2,056 pounds of manure will result 
from the feeding of the press-cakes of one acre. Reckoning 
one ton of manure worth 11.75, 2,056 pounds will be worth 
about f 1.80. The fodder value of press-cakes resulting from 
the operation with the hydraulic press without subsequent 
maceration is equal to the same weight of sugar-beet roots. 
They are even preferred to the latter, since they become 
more digestible and acquire, after being buried in pits in con- 
sequence of slow fermentation, a slightly acidulated taste. 
Cattle then eat them greedily and thrive upon them, particu- 
larly in case they are fed in connection with a proper quantity 
of oil-cake, bran, hay, or barley straw, &c., to replace the 
potassa compounds and the phosphates which the juice has 
carried ofif. 

The preservation of the press-cakes is easily accomplished. 
They are packed closely into tha empty beet-root pits or into 

* In this report all calculations concerning reductions of German surface measures and 
of money value are based on the following proportions: one American acre is considered 
equal to 1.58 Prussian morgen, and one Prussian thaler equal to 0.73 dollars. 



72 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. [Feb. 

brick chambers, being frequently interlaid with a small quantity 
of chopped straw, and, finally, tightly covered with soil. The 
fermented mass resulting from this operation keeps in an excel- 
lent state of preservation for six to seven months. 

Produce of Leaves. 
The leaves amount at the time of the harvesting of the roots 
to about one-fourth of the weight of the latter ; calculating as 
previously, 6,000 pounds of leaves would result from an acre. 
The leaves are separated upon the fields and subsequently in 
their green state plowed under deeply, or they are fed either 
fresh or in a preserved state. The manuring effect of the 
beet leaves is very great, since they contain in their fresh 
state more potassa, more phosphoric acid and more nitrogenous 
substances than an equal weight of roots. Their ash percent- 
age is also larger than that of the beet roots, consisting mainly 
of alkalies and alkaline earths. Almost one-third of all the 
potassa, one-half of the phosphoric acid, and two-fifths of the 
whole amount of nitrogenous substances of the entire sugar- 
beet crop is contained in the leaves. As they can.be fed in 
small quantity only, in their fresh state, they are salted down ' 
in pits. The pits used for this purpose ought to be in a dry 
locality and dug to a depth of from five to six feet. The 
bottom is covered from two to three inches thick with a layer 
of chopped straw of oats, rye or wheat ; then a layer from 
four to five inches thick of fresh beet leaves, mixed with one- 
quarter of one per cent of common salt is put on and trodden 
down, and these alternations continued until the pit is not only 
filled, but raised from two to three feet above the ground, and 
then a layer of two feet of soil is added as covering. In the 
same proportion as the mass shrinks in consequence of fermen- 
tation new soil is added to keep the covering above the level of 
the surrounding ground as protection from the rain. The 
leaves in the pits begin soon to ferment and to discharge 
moisture, which the straw absorbs ; they retain a strong smell 
until January, when they turn by degrees sweet and are on 
that account freely eaten by cattle. Sixty pounds of fresh 
green leaves produce forty pounds of preserved leaf-mass ; one 
acre furnishing thus about 3,900 pounds of such food, which, 
taking 100 pounds of hay worth one dollar, is valued at 16.3 



1871.] SENATE- No. 75. 73 

cents per 100 pounds. One acre would thus produce in food 
derived from the leaves $6.35 ; fresh leaves have 11.99 per 
cent of dry substance, preserved leaves contain 15.0 per 
cent ; the leaves of one acre of sugar-beet root contain there- 
fore 585 pounds of dry substance ; which multiplied by 1.75 
gives about 1,000 pounds of manure from this source of food. 
The leaves are never fed by themselves. Grouven recommends 
the following composition of food for every 1,000 pounds of live 
weight per day : 40 to 50 pounds of preserved leaf-mass, 40 
pounds press-cakes, 3 pounds of rape-cake with 6 pounds of hay. 
In proposing this composition of food, he presumes that 25 
pounds of perfectly dry hay represent the normal quantity of 
food required to support 1,000 pounds of live weight per day. 
A comparison of the mineral constituents contained in 25 
pounds of dry hay and 25 pounds of dried sugar-beet leaves 
explains the proposed practice. 

Hay. 

Potassa, 0.80 per cent. 

Phosphoric acid, . . . . 0.20 " 

Sulphuric acid, . .... 0.07 " 

Chloride of sodium, . . . . 0.12 " 

Dry Preserved Leaves. 

Potassa, 1.00 per cent. 

Phosphoric acid, . . . . 0.14 " 
Sulphuric acid, ..... 0.28 " 
Chloride of sodium, .... 0.52 " 

The small quantity of phosphoric acid and the large percent- 
age of sulphuric acid and chloride of sodium in the beet leaves 
renders their exclusive use objectionable. They are, therefore, 
fed in common with substances like oat-meal, oil-cake, bran, 
clover, hay, &c., on account of their richness in phosphates, &c. 
Preserved beet leaves, it appears from experiments of Tod, 
increase the production of milk in quality and quantity, whilst 
press-cakes, if exclusively used, reduce its quantity decidedly. 
A mixed food of 100 pounds of press-cakes with 75 pounds of 
preserved leaves produced for every 100 pounds of leaves fed, 
an increase of 24.5 pounds of milk per day, as compared with 

10 



74 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. [Feb. 

a corresponding feeding of press-cakes alone. The value of 
press-cakes and preserved leaves for the support of live stock, 
particularly during a period when food as a general rule 
becomes scarce and* thus expensive, must be quite apparent ; 
especially when we consider further that every ton of sugar-beets 
raised furnishes 400 pounds of press-cakes and 400 pounds of 
fresh leaves, and that an ordinary factory consumes from 40 to 
60 tons of beet roots per day during five months. In cases 
where stock feeding is no part of the enterprise, or where plenty 
of other kinds of food is at hand, the leaves while still green 
are plowed under. The part which the beet leaves perform in 
the absorption of mineral constituents from the soil may be 
seen from the following analytical statement : — 

A fair average crop of sugar beets abstracts per acre, — 

By Roots and Leaves. 



Phosphoric acid, 
Potassa, . 


• 


35 pounds 
164 " 


Lime and magnesia. 
Silica, . 


. 


63.50 " 
15.09 " 


By Roots Alone. 




Phosphoric acid, 
Potassa, . 


. 


25 pounds 
126 


Lime and magnesia. 
Silica, 


• 


32 
6.5 



Returned inform of Leaves. 

Phosphoric acid, .... 10 pounds. 

Potassa, 38 " 

Lime and magnesia, . . . 31.5 " 

Silica, 9.4 " 

The General Influence of the Sugar-Beet Cultivation on J 
THE Condition of the Soil. 
The first question which will be forced upon us in this con- 
nection, is : Can the sugar-beet be raised upon the same lands 
continuously without reducing their value either for the pro- 
duction of sugar beets or for general farm management V 



1871.] SENATE— No. 75. 75 

It is no doubt most convenient to refer for an answer to 
Germany and France, and notice the conditions of the lands 
engaged in the beet sugar cultivation for generations. We 
shall find that the yield of good sugar-beets is not diminishing, 
that the beet sugar industry in fact is continually growing— (has 
increased in Germany within the last fifteen years threefold)— 
and instead of reducing the general farm products, in conse- 
quence of engaging so large an area in the sugar-beet cultiva- 
tion, we know from statistical reports that they exceed in value 
the farm products of previous periods. High farming based on 
rational principles has taken the lead ; to increase the fertility 
of the soil has been the aim ; advantageous systems of rotation 
have been introduced and the effects of special manures have 
been subjected to close study. Science has made itself famil- 
iar with common farm routine, and an enterprising farming 
community has listened to its advice. Two facts are quite evi- 
dent to every intelligent farmer : first, that a certain chemical 
and physical condition of the soil is required to secure by the 
crops raised a satisfactory compensation for labor and expenses 
incurred in its cultivation ; and, secondly, that the plants we 
cultivate differ in their requirements in both directions. The 
mineral constituents needed for the support of any one kind of 
plant will be sooner or later exhausted, for nature as a general • 
rule does not change the mineral compounds required for the 
maintenance of a forced vegetation into a fit state for assimila- 
tion so rapidly as most of our farm crops, and the sugar-beet 
in particular, require. Fortunately for us the disintegrating 
surface of our globe has been for ages subjected to a leaching 
process, and its products are daily more and more opened to us 
in the form of saline deposits of every description ; the accu- 
mulated results of animal and vegetable life of past generations 
are brought back to us in the form of guano and phosphates of 
varying character, while chemistry has taught us how to assist 
nature in its preparation of plant-food. The physical condi- 
tions of the soil, however favorable they may have been, will 
suffer, if year after year subjected to the same or a similar treat- 
ment for the cultivation of one and the same plant ; diversity 
in its mechanical treatment and change of seasons for such 
treatment cannot otherwise but affect favorably its mechanical 
condition and its chemical disintegration, promoting thereby its 



76 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. [Feb. 

fitness for the absorption of atmospheric food. The roots of the 
same plants abstract their food year after year from the same 
layer of soil ; while a change of crop frequently alters the 
depth from which the food is absorbed. To cultivate the same 
plant upon the same spot for any length of time is also objec- 
tionable on account of the particular chances offered for the 
growth of those parasites and insects which make that plant 
their home. These and other reasons demand imperatively a 
rotation of crops. 

The sugar-beet sends its rootlets to a depth of several feet, and 
draws consequently largely from the subsoil; the latter is on that 
account, as stated before, of great importance. As the sugar- 
beet also depends in a high degree on atmospheric food, its leaf 
growth must be stimulated by a most careful pulverization of 
the soil, and as the fleshy root needs for its growth a loose, deep 
soil, deep plowing has been generally introduced. Thorough 
cultivation and a perfected system of under-drainage being 
absolutely indispensable to the highest success must necessarily 
improve the condition of lands devoted to beet culture. Green 
manuring and a liberal use of stable manure have also been 
employed to render the soil mellow and rich, and thus the farm 
lands have reached by degrees a high state of fertility. The 
use of special commercial fertilizers is resorted to not to the 
exclusion, but in aid of stable manure, and thus the chemical 
and physical requirements of the soil are met in the most 
efficient way. Rotation of crops in connection with a rotation 
of special manures has demonstrated the practicability of pre- 
serving unimpaired the fertility of soil engaged in sugar-beet 
cultivation. 

Without entering here in detail upon this much studied 
question, I propose to state merely a few observations of a more 
general interest, in addition to what is said in previous pages. 
Well manured annual leaf crops for green feeding, are con- 
sidered the best crop to precede the beet ; next in order, follow 
well manured summer or winter grain crops ; less recommended 
are perennial grasses and other fodder crops ; directly objec- 
tionable are, if not specially manured, potatoes and root crops 
in general, of which the mangel is the worst. The sugar-beet, 
on the other hand, is a good crop to precede almost any other 
farm plant. The succession of crops adopted in the interest of 



1871.] 



SENATE— No. 75. 



7T 



sugar-beet industry has reference to two important objects, 
namely, an adequate supply of food to each crop and the pro- 
duction of thg largest possible amount of animal manure. A 
fair crop of beet roots is of course more exhausting to the soil, 
as far as phosphoric acid, and particularly potassa, is concerned, 
than most of our farm plants ; a judicious system of rotation 
divides that effect over several years, and thus enables the 
farmer to draw more efficiently on the natural resources of 
the soil, and so avoid a direct outlay of money. The follow- 
ing succession of crops is considered very satisfactory, viz. : 
green fodder, wheat, sugar-beets, and, finally, a summer grain 
crop ; or barley, sugar-beets, barley, green fodder, wheat, 
sugar-beets ; and these are economical as far as manure is con- 
cerned. Two thousand three hundred pounds of hay, or its full 
equivalent in fodder value, are considered sufficient to replace 
tiie constituents which a fair beet sugar crop abstracts per acre 
in excess of what the refuse material resulting from such crop 
in the course of beet sugar manufacture will compensate for. 
The amount of refuse material fit for manuring purposes is 
counted per acre equal to 4,700 pounds. T. T. Fiihling's 
figures on this question are of great interest as they come from 
a practical sugar-beet cultivator, whose opinion is regarded as 
of great importance. They refer to pounds per acre. 





I.* 


ii.t 


iii.t 


IV.§ 


V.ll 


Nitrogen, . .• . 


36.4 


19.8 


16.6 


23.7 


32. 


Potassa, .... 


96.4 


19. 


77.4 


28.5 


33.2 


Soda, .... 


39.5 


6.3 


33.2 


95 


3.2 


Lime, .... 


14.2 


28.5 


33.2 


4. 


28.5 


Magnesia, .... 


95 


11.9 


33.2 


4.3 


9.5 


Chlorine, .... 


28.5 


2.4 


26.1 


4.3 


9.5 


Sulphuric acid, . 


79 


6.4 


1.5 


11.5 


9.5 


Phosphoric acid, 


15.8 


9.5 


6.3 


o 


4.8 


Silicic acid, 


17.4 


— 


6.3 


8. 


47.4 



* Substances abstracted by a full sugar-beet crop, 
t Substances returned in the manure obtained from sugar-beets. 
J Amount of substances not replaced by that manure. 

^ Amount of substances abstracted per acre during a four years' rotation as detailed. 
II Amount of substances restored to the soil by the manure resulting from the feeding 
M 2,300 pounds of hay. 



78 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. [Feb. 

• 
Comparing these analytical results, we find that the manure 
obtained from the beet roots and from the hay replace what, in 
the course of a few years' rotation, as specified above, will be 
taken per year from one acre. Wherever a fahner deviates 
from the practice previously stated, potassa and phosphoric acid 
must be largely supplied in form of special manures, as super- 
phospliate of lime, or flour of bones and wood-ash, or crude 
sulphate of potassa. One hundred acres of good meadow-land 
in twelve hundred acres under cultivation for beet-sugar manu- 
facture are considered in Germany a suitable proportion to 
raise the amount of hay required. 

Stock feeding then becomes a prominent feature in the farm 
industry. The farm produce is largely sold in the form of live 
weight, and the manure is more cheaply produced by fattening 
live stock than it can be bought. The farmer keeps only as 
many horses as are indispensable, and does his farmwork, as 
far as possible, with oxen. He looks upon cows, if not favora- 
bly located for the milk-market, as a mere manure-machine, and 
keeps only as many as required to make up the stock wanting. 
Sheep-fattening, if he has suitable pasture, he considers a 
profitable business. Li feeding his stock he believes in the 
efficiency of feeding high, to reduce the expenses of keeping ; 
and this produces also the cheapest manure. Every animal 
requires a certain amount of food for daily support independent 
of its increase in weight; the shorter the time for fattening the 
more food for mere keeping is saved. In calculating the 
quantity of food required for the various kinds of stock, the 
following figures are frequently adopted: for every one hun- 
dred pounds of live weight, 3.33 pounds of hay or its equivalent 
per day are considered necessary as the mere support of farm 
stock in cases of ordinary employment, and five pounds of hay 
or its equivalent for every hundred pounds of live weight for 
fattening purposes. In the case of young stock, eight times as 
much food is given for production of weight as for mere sus- 
tenance ; from every hundred pounds of food for support, and 
fifty pounds of food for growth, from four to six pounds of 
increase in live weight are expected as return. 

Summing up the value of the various products of one acre of 
sugar-beets, we find at a very low calculation the following 
result : — 



1871.] SENATE— No. 75. 


79 


Sugar, 1,500 pounds at seven cents. 


. $105 00 


Molasses, 


■ 2 90 


Press-cakes, 


13 60 


Preserved leaf-mass, .... 


6 30 


Manure (about two tons), 


3 50 



(Profit, in converted produce, <fec., &c.) 

Every cent of increase in the price of the sugar would be 
equal to fifteen dollars additional profit per acre, and every 
one-half per cent increase in crystallized sugar from every hun- 
dred pounds of beet roots worked, would add about 115 pounds 
of sugar to yield, or $8.05 additional profit per acre. These 
additions in profit are by no means beyond reach, for the 
best management in Europe realizes them. 

To enter, in concluding this Report, upon a detailed calcula- 
tion of what our expenses for the production of the above 
articles per acre would be, could be at best but a mere approxi- 
mation. 

It may suffice to keep in mind that in Europe from forty-six 
to fifty dollars per acre has to be paid in taxes to the govern- 
ment ; that our lands are cheaper, and that machinery is taking 
daily more and more the place of the hand in planting seeds, in 
cleaning the fields, and in securing the juice from the beet 
roots. Where the final pecuniary results may differ so widely, 
as must be quite apparent from previous statements, in conse- 
quence of a more or less favorable location of the factory and 
the skill engaged in its management, it is unsafe to state a 
definite sum of profit. It must here, as in every similar 
instance of an industrial enterprise, suffice to know that money 
can be made if the business be intelligently managed. As far 
as the farmer is concerned there is little risk. While the profits 
of the beet-sugar manufacturer may be lessened by changes in 
provisions of political economy, the farmer is not necessarily 
subjected to influences of that kind. In this case, he is aware 
that root crops are profitable, and that aside from this, his farm 
lands will receive a treatment which has everywhere been 
proved to enrich, rather than to exhaust the soil. 

To restore his land to something like its original productive- 



80 



AGEICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



[Feb. 



ness, and to do this mainly through capital furnished by outside 
parties, is worthy his serious consideration. 

The real importance of this subject to the farming interest of 
the Commonwealth, as well as to the people at large, can never 
be satisfactorily determined, except by a series of wisely con- 
ducted experiments, which can no where be so appropriately 
undertaken as at the Massachusetts Agricultural College. 



APPENDIX. 



Results of the Examination of Sugar-heets raised on the Collegt 
Farm during the past season. 







Weight, in 


Percentage of 


NAME. 


Source of Seed. 










pounds. 


Sugar in juice. 


I, — Vilmorin beet, . 


Saxony, 


1 to 1 


15.50 


II. — Vilmorin beet, . 






(( 


1 to 1 


15.61 


I. — White Imperial, 






a 


f to If 


14 20 


New Imperial, . 






a 


li to If 


13 80 


I. — White Magdeburg, 






(1 


l| to 2 


13.10 


Quedlinburg, 






(( 


H to If 


13 44 


11. — White Imperial, 






(1 


If to 2 


10 27 


II. — White Magdeburg, 






Silesia, 


H to If 


10.06 


White Silesian, . 






(( 


li to li 


9 72 


III. — Vilmorin beet, . 






(( 


11 to 1 
4 to If 


9.93 


Long White beet. 






n 


8 60 


White Sugar beet, 






(( 


If to 2 


7.20 


Vienna Red beet, 






(( 


If to 2 


8.10 



The percentage of sugar was ascertained by means of a polar- 
ization apparatus, and the results obtained, in several instances, 
verified by Trommer's test. My thanks are due to Mr. J. B. 
Heyl, of Philadelphia, for kind assistance rendered in the labor- 
atory work during his stay as special student in chemistry at 
the Agricultural College. 




I it 











FRENCH VlLIVIuRIN SUGAR BtE. 
VV.-iv^lil I II) 



i' 













I'h 



^. 



S'" 





FREMCH ViLMO-RIN SUGAR BEET 



K^' -" 






1 • "I 





WHITE IMPERIAL SUi;/,,' LiEET. 

WeiOj.i I lb J oz. 



Ii:iU| 







X c 










BtSi SILESfAN SUGAR BEE" 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS -ft] 



021 529 510 2 



'sJ 



